Kornilov Affair

The Kornilov Affair was an attempted coup d'etat that was launched by General Lavr Kornilov and elements of the Russian Army from August to September 1917. Lavr Kornilov demanded authorization from the Russian Provisional Government to restore discipline to striking factories, seized land, and looted areas, seeking to suppress soldiers' committees and disband rebellious regiments. Provisional government leader Alexander Kerensky feared that Kornilov was seeking to institute military rule, so he dismissed him from his post on 9 September 1917. Kornilov rebelled against the government with his troops, and the Provisional Government and Bolsheviks allied to defend the Petrograd Soviet from Kornilov's army. Imprisoned Bolshevik leaders such as Leon Trotsky were released, and arms were given to the Russian Red Guard militias in order to defend their factories from the mutinous troops. Kornilov was quickly arrested, and the coup failed. However, the Bolsheviks would keep their guns, and the October Revolution would follow shortly after.